1998
Makes England squad at 18 after joining Newcastle from school. Becomes second youngest England player ever as a wing, replacing Mike Catt in a 35-18 home win over Ireland. Wins Premiership title and goes on the infamous "Tour of Hell".
1999
Selected by Clive Woodward for the World Cup; starts at fly-half in key pool games against Italy and New Zealand and quarter-final play-off against Fiji. Is dropped, for Paul Grayson, for the quarter-final defeat by South Africa in Paris.
2000
Part of an England side which loses the second of three grand slam games in a row – in this case away to Scotland, in a monsoon – Wilkinson then kicks all 27 of his team's points in a pivotal victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein.
2001
Wins his second Six Nations title and tours with the Lions to Australia. Plays all three Tests at fly-half, scoring 36 points including a try in the third match, at Sydney. Series is lost 2-1. Newcastle win first of two domestic cup finals.
2002
Starts all of England's autumn internationals and scores 51 points, including a fine chip and chase try against the All Blacks, as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are beaten on successive weekends.
2003
England win a grand slam with 77 points from Wilkinson, their captain against Italy, and the World Cup, beating Australia in the final with a drop goal from their No10. Wilkinson is made IRB player of the year, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and an MBE.
2005
Returns after a year and a half out injured, during which he is made an OBE and captain of England, though he never leads the side. Woodward picks him for the Lions – he plays in all three Test defeats in New Zealand, at centre in the second.
2007
Plays for England in the Six Nations for the first time since the 2003 tournament, after two more years of injury and illness. Goes to the World Cup in France and plays in his second final, kicking two penalties in a defeat by South Africa.
2009
Returns to the England squad in the autumn after another long absence, thanks to a dislocated knee that also puts him out of contention for a third Lions tour, to South Africa. Leaves Newcastle after 12 years and signs to play in France for Toulon.
2010
Happy and injury free in France, Wilkinson starts the Six Nations as England's fly-half but loses his place to Toby Flood after a disappointing draw at Murrayfield in the fourth match. Begins a long spell of appearances from the bench.
2011
Wins his fourth Six Nations title as a replacement in each game. Takes the No10 shirt back from Flood for the World Cup in New Zealand, in which a quarter-final defeat by France in Auckland turns out to be his final match for England.
The stats
Caps 91 England, 6 Lions Tries 7 Conversions 169 Penalties 255 Drop goals 36 Points 1,246 World Cup 2003 Six Nations 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011 Premiership 1998 Tetley's Bitter Cup 2001, 2004
